Advice on Printer purchase

I'm looking to update my current printer which is an Epson 1290 and would appreciate thoughts and advise on my probable new purchase.
I've narrowed the choice down to either Canon's Pixma pro 9500mk2 or Epson's R3000 or 2880.
I'm not exactly sure if there's a great deal of difference between any of them so would like to hear users thoughts and preferences before i go and buy.
I'd be looking to produce A3 & A4 colour and B&W prints
Thanks in advance.
David

I use a Epson 3800 and am very happy with it. Out of the Epson models mentioned I would go with the R3000 as it is not much more for a much better printer. I have never used Canon so cannot comment other than to say when I have seen printer displays at various conventions, they are competitive both in quality and price. There is a thought that Epson don't play nice with Apple but this has not been my experience.

You can't go wrong with either a Canon or Epson printer. I use an Epson 3880 and a Canon MP560. If I wouldn't have the need for an A2 printer I would probably go for the Epson R3000 as it also has wireless printing capabilities.
Rene de Heer
www.naturepics.co.uk

I use the Apple Airport Express for wireless printing. Works a treat.

I would suggest going for the Pixma Pro1 over the 9500. I was looking at printers the other day when someone asked me about a recommendation, the Pro1 has 36ml ink carts which are the biggest carts I know of in smaller (< A2) printers and the prices I saw for the carts were very reasonable, it's a 12 ink printer using the same ink type as my iP5100, though have a different mix of ink colours to the 5100. The Epson 3000 uses smaller 26ml carts. The R2880 carts are quite tiny with 11ml of ink and it requires swapping balck cartridges to swap between gloss and matte. To give an indication Epson R3000 carts are 31.99 and Canon Pro1 are $32.50 at B&H.

I am concentrating on ink costs as per ml they are one of the most expensive fluids you can buy and I generally think there is not a lot to pick between Canon and Epson in image quality each has it's strong and not so strong points.